BEAT IT / SOUND ENERGY
I am a recovering mental health patient & avid drummer, and I'm seeking to establish a social drum group called 'BEAT IT' in York and Harrogate as a social / peer therapy activity for people with mental health issues.
Phase 1 - This is aimed at adults with mental health issues who would find this activity invigorating, focussing and mindful. The weekly / bi-weekly group would be focussed on practising key skills and rudiments and performing as an ensemble.
Key Skills
• Stick control
• Timing
• Rudiments (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced)
• Group Composition
• Co-operation in a group musical setting
• Focussing on playing for mindfulness
Phase 2 - The activities will be rolled out to schools, colleges, parents with children aged from 5 to 16, and the general public to bring the joy of drumming in a social group to a wider audience with the aim of performing live at carnivals and events.
What we'll deliver:
- Buy drum equipment to get the group started
- Hire venues to enable as many people to access this group as possible
- Branded t-shirts etc to advertise the group
Why it's a great idea:
For individuals coping with depression, anxiety, or trauma, there is something more intuitive and liberating about communicating through music. Some find the combination of group therapy and drumming effective as it brings more contemporary approaches to mental health together with creative and non-judgemental expression of emotions.
Alongside the plethora of research on the effects of music on the brain, studies have found that drumming offers numerous health benefits. For women dealing with eating disorders, children with autism, cancer patients, war veterans living with PTSD, individuals with anger management issues, people with addictions, and even Alzheimer’s patients, drumming offers physical and emotional benefits.
Steps to get it done:
- Get 10 people to join the first group in Harrogate
- Perform live as a group at an outdoor event
- Record a video to promote the group (with members of the group) and publish it to youtube
- Start a fourth group in Boroughbridge
- Start a second group in York
- Start a third group in Knaresborough
It's a brilliant idea!!!
